Team Principal ready to take on Standard League

Ice Hockey has a history of over 30 years in Hong Kong and in the recent years, its popularity has grown immensely in the local sport scene. With Hong Kong regaining her qualification for the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in 2013, Hong Kong was able to send National Teams to participate in the U18, Women’s and Men’s categories of the 2014 IIHF World Championship.

Numerous league games are played each week with over 1,200 active ice hockey players currently living in Hong Kong.  Since 2007, Hong Kong Academy of Ice Hockey (HKAIH), has been striving to promote the sport of ice hockey to the Hong Kong local youth. The Hong Kong School Ice Hockey League started in 2009 provided the opportunity for local students to form school teams and participate in official league games.  In 2012, HKAIH’s sister organization, Hong Kong Amateur Hockey Club (HKAHC), established the Standard League, the first ice hockey league in Hong Kong to fulfill the IIHF World Championship participation requirements set by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Hong Kong ice hockey players have finally the definitive goal of joining the National Team and representing Hong Kong in future World Championship games.  To further provide development opportunities for the talented young players in Hong Kong, HKAHC established a development team (Team Principal) jointly with their long term high-school league supporter, Principal Global Investors (Asia) Limited, in the upcoming 2014-15 standard league. Team members include talented young players from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups team and the HKAHC High-School League.  HKAHC will be providing team training and official league game opportunities for these talented young players to ensure that players will receive continuous and sustainable ice hockey training.

Being an avid supporter of local ice hockey development for many years, Principal has taken yet another step this year to fully support both the HKAHC High School League and the Standard League for the 2014-15 season.  “We are proud to be a sponsor of both leagues organized by the HKAHC. Our aim is not only to train a team that is competitive but also with the positive mindset”, said Carmen Lam, CEO of Principal Global Investors (Asia) Limited.